Week 37 Power Rankings: THE TOUR Championship

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Sep. 22, 2009
By Mike Vitti, PGATOUR.COM

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mike Vitti is a stats guru who analyzes all kinds of data from our ShotLink numbers. Vitti will size up the field each week and provide his top 10 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.

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The final event of the FedExCup, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, will take place in Atlanta at East Lake Golf Club. With a 30-man field, a power ranking of 10 players would cover a third of the field, so we'll take a look at everyone who will be teeing it up in the field this week.

Winning THE TOUR Championship doesn't guarantee you the FedExCup title -- unless you rank in the top five in points after the reset. But for the other 25 players in the 30-man field, a win at East Lake certainly enhances their chances of claiming the FedExCup and the $10 million bonus. For a detailed explanation of what each player in the field needs ot do to win the FedExCup, click here.

Power Rankings: THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola
Rank Player   Comment
Tiger
WOODS
When Woods won at East Lake in 2007, he led the field in greens in regulation and putts per greens in regulation. He comes in ranked 11th and 10th on the season, respectively, in those categories.
Steve
STRICKER
Although Stricker has made it to East Lake the last two years, he has not played particularly well. Look for that to change this week, as he comes in ranked second in both scrambling and putts per greens in regulation.
Jim
FURYK
Furyk has not won since the middle of 2007, but he is a top-10 machine. He has nine on the season and has six career top-10 finishes at East Lake.
Zach
JOHNSON
Johnson fired a course-record 60 at East Lake in 2007, when he finished second to Tiger Woods. He's scored in the 60s in six of his last eight rounds.
Padraig
HARRINGTON
Harrington has finished in the top 10 in each of his last five starts and should make it six in a row this week. Before the start of the Playoffs, he was 52nd in scrambling. He currently ranks 13th.
Sean
O'HAIR
O'Hair has finished in the top 10 in the last two Playoff events. He ranks 20th in greens in regulation. At one point this season, he hit 32 greens in a row.
Retief
GOOSEN
In five career appearances at the THE TOUR Championship, Goosen has never finished outside the top 10 and was the winner in 2004.
Mike
WEIR
Weir finished tied for sixth last year at East Lake and has improved his finish each week in the '09 Playoffs. His accuracy off the tee will be a big benefit at East Lake, which is expected to feature heavy rough.
Phil
MICKELSON
Mickelson finished tied for third in '08 at the East Lake, but he has not posted a top-10 finish on the PGA TOUR since the U.S. Open.
Ernie
ELS
Els tied for sixth at the 2008 TOUR Championship, and he's racked up six top-10s in this event. Els has been closing strong this season -- he ranks third in final round scoring average.
Y.E.
YANG
Yang is making his first appearance at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. He is currently ninth in proximity to the hole from the the rough.
Scott
VERPLANK
Verplank is seventh in driving accuracy, 23rd in greens in regulation, and 10th in putts per greens in regulation. He has finished in the top 10 in two of the three events in the Playoffs.
Kenny
PERRY
Perry is eighth on the PGA TOUR in ball striking, and it seems like he could score at East Lake. However, he has not finished inside the top half of the field in his last three starts at the famed Atlanta course.
Geoff
OGILVY
At 71.43 percent, Ogilvy leads the PGA TOUR in birdie-or-better percentage when he goes for the green in two on par-5s. He is also 12th on the PGA TOUR in total putting.
Lucas
GLOVER
Glover is making his first appearance at THE TOUR Championship since 2006. He has not played well in the Playoffs, posting five rounds of 74 or higher.
Stewart
CINK
Cink has only broken 70 once in the three Playoff events and has never finished better than a tie for 13th at the THE TOUR Championship.
David
TOMS
Toms leads the PGA TOUR in driving accuracy and is fourth in scoring, but he has not had a top-10 finish since the end of June.
Jerry
KELLY
Kelly has not played in the THE TOUR Championship since 2004 and has only made three appearances at the event, but he does have a pair of top-five finishes.
Hunter
MAHAN
Mahan has made it to Atlanta in each of the first two years of the FedExCup and finished tied for fifth at East Lake in 2007.
John
SENDEN
The TOUR leader in greens in regulation percentage is making his first career appearance at THE TOUR Championship.
Jason
DUFNER
Dufner may seem like he is here because of his finish at TPC Boston, but it was his sixth top-10 of the year -- tying him for ninth in most top-10s on the PGA TOUR this season.
Angel
CABRERA
Cabrera is seventh in driving distance, but 186th in accuracy, which could get him in some trouble on this course, but he does rank third in proximity to the hole from the rough.
Heath
SLOCUM
Slocum followed up his victory at Liberty National with a missed cut and a tie for 38th. He finished tied for 17th at East Lake in 2007.
Dustin
JOHNSON
Johnson is making his first appearance at East Lake. He finished in the top 15 in two of the three Playoffs events. Averaging over 300 yards on all drives, he may be the longest hitter in the field.
Nick
WATNEY
Watney made it to Atlanta mainly on the strength of his early-season play. His tie for sixth at The Barclays was his first top-10 since March.
Steve
MARINO
Marino has posted rounds of par or better in 10 of the 12 rounds in the Playoffs. He ranks 13th in greens in regulation.
Kevin
NA
Na has recorded nine top-10 finishes this season. He ranks fourth in scrambling and is tied for 15th in total putting.
Brian
GAY
Gay is fifth in scrambling percentage and driving accuracy. He has not finished in the top 10 since winning the St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx in June.
Luke
DONALD
Surprisingly, Donald is making his first start at THE TOUR Championship since 2006, when he finished tied for sixth. He is first in putts per GIR and sand save percentage.
Marc
LEISHMAN
Leishman is in the top 30 in greens in regulation and has finished in the top 20 in four of his last five starts.
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